Feel and meter

In Feelism you pick the groove and the number of beats in a bar separately. On the screen the groove is Feel, and the number of beats is Meter. A tune in 3 does not have to be a waltz. You can also make a bossa nova in 3, and other mixes.

Feel (the groove)

Pick from the Feel list. These are the choices.

Swing, Ballad, Even 8, Bossa, Samba, Samba Hot, Calypso, Funk, Fusion, Shuffle, Dixie, Afro, Second Line, Gypsy, Cha-cha, Tango, Bolero, Son Montuno, Baião, Reggae, Rock, Disco, Country, House, Merengue, Danzón, Maracatu, Afoxé, Organ trio.

When you pick one, the bass walking, the drum pattern, and the way the piano enters all change together. Pick Ballad and brushes (the drum brushes) come in on their own. F on the keyboard goes to the next one. Shift+F goes back.

Meter

The Meter list is 4/4, 2/4, 3/4, 6/4, 6/8, 9/8, 12/8, 5/4, 5/8, 7/4, 7/8. The top number is how many beats are in one bar. M and Shift+M on the keyboard move through the list too.

You cannot change Feel or Meter while playing. Stop, then change them.

A Feel that changes during the tune

Some charts say “a different groove from here.” When the Lock Feel check is off (that is how it starts), Feelism follows that instruction and switches while you play. The status line shows which bar the next switch is on.

To keep the Feel you picked, turn Lock Feel on (the key is L). The chart’s instruction is ignored.

You can also rewrite a bar yourself. That is Feel (from this bar) in Rewrite chords.

Remembering your choices

When you open a tune, Feel, meter, and tempo go back to what the chart says. If you want a change kept for this tune only, it is remembered on its own, and [saved] shows in the chart heading. To go back, press Reset tune settings (Feelism asks you to confirm).

You can also search tunes by Feel. That is Feel (all) in Find a tune.